Perennial Shade Plant Suggestions Needed

[ducks4you]

I'll pass on the Ivy, because the house is brick. You wouldn't want that digging into the morter!

 

[Nyboy]

Yep I love the old European look of a house covered in Ivy. My house is stucco, if I could find a vine that wouldn't destroy stucco, i planted it in a mintue.

 

[Smart Red]

Hum-m-m-m. Aren't all the Ivy League schools built of stone and/or brick? They are covered with Ivy -- hence the name. I don't think ivy plants grow into the brick or mortar, just attach themselves and grow on. On the other hand, the vines can grow under shingles and wooden siding sometimes.

 

[Nyboy]

Red I would assume Ivy league school have a LARGE budget for building maintenance.I was told roots burrow into mortar weakening it. Any one know for sure?

 

[catjac1975]

Hum-m-m-m. Aren't all the Ivy League schools built of stone and/or brick? They are covered with Ivy -- hence the name. I don't think ivy plants grow into the brick or mortar, just attach themselves and grow on. On the other hand, the vines can grow under shingles and wooden siding sometimes.

Ivy does deteriorate the mortar and require repair.

 

[Nyboy]

I wish it didn't look the look

 

[ducks4you]

Here are some pictures. Sorry about the quality. My old SONY camera takes better ID pictures than my Nikon COOLPIX, which I have misplaced.

 

[ducks4you]

The house IS very pretty. Here are few inside photos.

The steps that go to the second floor also go down into the kitchen. Note the "Harry Potter" closet below the steps.

Look fast. This front door is falling apart and will soon be replaced by a steel door. The woodwork is identical to the woodwork at our 100yo+ house. The front door is the same as ours, EXCEPT somebody closed in the front porch at my house and kept the front door and screen door from the weather for the past 50 years.

My DD's got a fireplace. MY house never had one. It started with a coal burning furnace of sorts and then a boiler.

 

[ninnymary]

Beautiful house. It looks big.

Mary

 

[Smart Red]

That is a beautiful big brick house. Too bad about the front door. A steel door can keep out the weather, but I prefer original wood whenever possible.

You are right about the side yard. That big tree will keep planting choices to shade lovers. If they don't want constant work weeding, they might want to plant hostas and ferns. Lots of nice, interesting plant material without a lot of tending -- and all the foliage dies back completely so raking up is neat and easy.